Look out, season's first freeze is upon us

WEST CHESTER Ė Itís great news for allergy sufferers but not so great news for those who have recently added to their outside gardens or those whose cars are in so-so shape for cold-weather driving.

According to AccuWeather.com, there is a freeze warning in effect from 2 to 9 a.m. Saturday. Temperatures will range from the mid 20s in the Poconos and northwestern New Jersey to the upper 20s and lower 30s elsewhere.

Sensitive plants, says AccuWeather.com, will likely be damaged or killed if not protected or brought indoors. According to their warning, this also means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely and that these conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says that while some people get minor relief from the effects of the first frost, it doesnít cure the problem. The AAFA says ďif you are sensitive to mold spores, you may have symptoms from spring to late fall. Yet, even after the first frost of winter, some mold spores can continue to grow in freezing temperatures.Ē

So while we all welcome the frost, really the first snowfall is better for those who suffer with allergies. And snow for most of us seems like months away.

And for those whose cars have seen better days, the first wave of cold weather can be a stark reminder of the pre-winter work it may need.

According to Popular Mechanics, the cold weather isnít your carís best friend.

ďWinter is tough on batteries, for two main reasons. The engines are far harder to turn over because all the oil inside them has turned to molasses. This demands much more current from a battery, and to add insult to injury, that battery cannot produce its normal amount of energy because of the cold. The chemical reactions that generate electricity are slower at a lower temperatures. Your point about cables loosening is partially related. The huge current demands of the starter motor--200 to 400 amps--can cause the battery clamps to heat up if the connection at the clamp to post isnít perfect. When the car starts, the connection will cool off. And that leaves a poor connection. And a poor connection can prevent the battery from getting fully charged. A discharged battery, unlike one thatís fully charged, can freeze, damaging it internally. ď

Translation: if your battery is weak and needs replacement, you may find out sooner rather than later.

Better Homes and Gardens has good and bad news for plants when it comes to the cold weather thatís right on our doorsteps.

ďPutting the garden to bed for the winter is mostly a matter of cleaning up and covering up. As fall progresses and temperatures drop, those plants that arenít killed outright by frost prepare for dormancy,Ē it says on its website.

Read the complete story on the BHG website: http://bit.ly/OtDzQ0.

Once we get past Saturday, the overnight lows donít forecast to be much lower than the 40s for the next week. So the skis and wooly sleepwear can stay on hold for a little longer.